Revolutionizing Seafood:

Meet the Founders

Gold River Aquafarms Team

Innovation is in our DNA.

Our decades of experience working in all applications of the aquaculture industry has ingrained invaluable expertise in building, maintaining, and innovating land-based farming facilities across the world.

We Are Rooted in Professionalism

Our experience speaks for itself from engineering to operations; we have collectively designed or developed 130 land-based fish farms in the aquaculture industry across the globe. This extensive knowledge and understanding of our business allows us to confidently deliver a world-class product and break ground in our industry. 

We Are Committed to Sustainability

Our land-based systems eliminate impacts on wild stocks, sensitive habitats, and ecosystems; while avoiding water pollution and eradicating disease transfer. Our method results in a lower environmental footprint than most protein production in terms of freshwater use, CO2 emissions, and land use.

We Are Driven by Innovation

Our leading-edge proprietary design is innovative, cost-saving, and proven to work effectively without interference to sensitive ecosystems. Our technology has improved traceability, logistics, inventory management, product uniformity, demand response, and product quality — all while eliminating the negative impacts that would otherwise occur on natural marine environments. 

Our Founders…

With each of our founding members beginning their aquaculture careers in the 1980s culture of net-cage farming on the west coast, we’ve seen this industry grow, change, and adapt to the successes and failures of all types of rearing environments, technologies, and a growing global population.

Robert Walker

MBA | Co-Founder, Director & President

Rob has spent over 30+ years in the Aquaculture sector, with many years spent in technology development and farming operations. He is an experienced Managing Director in the fish production industry with expertise across the board in the areas of business planning and development, operations management, sales and marketing, and sustainability.

Richard Buchanan

P.Eng | Co-Founder, Director of Engineering

Richard holds 40+ years of experience in the Aquaculture industry serving as President and CEO for a variety of international fisheries companies in Canada and China. He has been responsible for international agriculture and fishery developments throughout his career, as well as spearheading land-based salmon farming in China using Mixed-Cell RAS technology.

John Holder

R.P. Bio | Co-Founder, Director of Technology

John holds 50+ years of experience in the salmonid Aquaculture sector in Canada and internationally; developing technology in over 6 continents over the course of his career. He is the renowned designer of RASWay (Recirculating Aquaculture System Mixed-Cell Raceway) and is an expert in closed containment systems for numerous freshwater & saltwater fish species.

Robert Hibberd

CPA (Canada), CPA (Illinois) | Finance

Robert, a former AVP with PricewaterhouseCoopers (Canada), is a founder and former CFO of numerous highly successful enterprises in North America. Robert specializes in corporate finance advisory and public company transactions, with in-depth experience of finance, accounting, start-ups and operations. He has completed numerous IPOs, mergers and acquisitions and has closed over US$1 billion in deals in North America.

Our Advisory Board

Our Gold River Aquafarms Advisory Board is dedicated to ensuring the sustainable, responsible, and equitable operation of our facility. Our committee is made up of experts in business, governance, civil engagement, fisheries, and environmental management. Through regular meetings and open communication, our collective goal is to achieve unsurpassed environmental performance while delivering the highest production capacity possible.

Chief Jerry Jack

Advisor

Klakwagiila (Chief Jerry Jack) comes from the House of Tseshaht and is a Hereditary Chief from Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation. He has over 40 years of experience working on First Nations issues including justice, policing, governance, fisheries and environmental management. 

John Frame

Advisor

John has lived in Gold River for 56 years. He ran the Gold River Chinook Project for 25 years, and partnered with Sega Sea Farms and built the first phase of what is now Grieg Seafoods Atlantic salmon hatchery. John built his own fishing lodge 18 years ago and retains his role as fishing guide and environmental steward.

Guy Heywood

Advisor

Guy’s career focus has been in business management, currency trading, corporate lending, financial consulting, and startup ventures. He has also served on the boards of the North Vancouver School District, North Vancouver City Council, Greater Vancouver Food Bank, and the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce.

Want to join the team?

Become a part of the Gold River Aquafarms team and apply for a position today. Check out all of the career opportunities that we have to offer.